Eighteenth Sunday of the Year: C: July 31, 2022

 WORLDLY RICHES V/S ETERNAL HAPPINESS

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1: 2 and 2: 21-23

Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1-5 and 9-11

Gospel Reading: Luke 12: 13-21

   *First reading is from the book of Ecclesiastes. The immense troubles we undertake to acquire material wealth even though it brings us little security are narrated. Life makes no sense if it has no deeper goal than achieving worldly possessions and success. Because this world and all it holds are nothing but sheer folly and emptiness in the sight of the Lord God.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Colossians. Paul reminds the Christian community at Colossia and all of us that we are a new creation in Christ. We have to turn our attention from worldly things and seek the things of heaven. Because, having been raised up with Christ in baptism, we have to keep God as the center of our lives and avoid the things that endanger eternal joy. 

The parable of the rich fool                                                                              Today's Gospel passage for our reflection is from St. Luke. Jesus illustrates the parable of the rich fool. This parable was told in the context of a  dispute between two brothers regarding their property. Jesus was asked by one of them to mediate and divide their inheritance between them. Jesus reminds him and all of us that life is much more than the abundance of a person's possessions. Then Jesus tells the parable of the rich man. He is extremely wealthy and yet he desires to store up his bumper crop for greater security and happiness. Jesus calls him a fool because he neglected three most important factors for real and lasting happiness. 1. He forgot God - he does not even have a little thought that all his possessions are gifts from the Almighty. 2. He forgot eternal life - he is merely looking for temporal happiness in this world. 3. He totally ignores his obligation to the poor and to the needy. This parable seriously warns everyone of us to take stock of the things and possession in our lives in the context of eternal life. 

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony." - Mahatma Gandhi.

"Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have." - Anon

"Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure is, there is your heart; where your heart is, there is your happiness." - St. Augustine. 

Seventeenth Sunday of the Year: C: July 24, 2022

               HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?

First Reading: Genesis 18: 20-32

Second Reading: Colossians 2: 12-14

Gospel Reading: Luke 11: 1-13

   * First reading is from the book of Genesis. Abraham prays to the Lord God for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. People of those cities grievously sinned against the Lord God. The Lord God decides to destroy those two rebellious and wicked cities. But Abraham intercedes and pleads with the Lord God to spare them from destruction. Even if the number of righteous in those cities are as few as fifty/ forty five/ forty/ twenty or merely ten, Abraham wants the Lord God to be merciful to them. The Lord God promises Abraham that for the sake of even ten righteous persons in those cities, He will not destroy them. 

   *Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to Colossians. Paul explains to the Christian community in Colossia that in baptism, they are buried with Christ and are raised with Him. Hence through baptism a believer is inserted into Christ's death and resurrection. Thus a baptized person once and for all dies to the sinful way of life and is raised to live a new life of grace.

The Lord's prayer                                                                             Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray through the prayer 'Our Father'. It is a prayer for all times and for all occasions. Every relationship between us and our heavenly Father is taken care of in it. The aspects that Jesus considers and that we too should consider include the following: 1. Accepting God as our heavenly Father and praising Him. 2. Praying for our daily needs - food in particular. 3. Praying that we may be able to forgive others so that we in turn may be forgiven by God. 4. Praying that we may be able to overcome our temptations - for no one can say that we are not tempted. 5. Praying that we may be delivered from the power of evil. When we pray the prayer 'Our Father' or any other prayer, let us ask for what we need but let us be contented by what the Lord gives us; 

"If we pray, we will believe; if we believe, we will love; if we love, we will serve." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." - St. Augustine.

"Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is a daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart." - Mahatma Gandhi. 

"Prayer doesn't change  things - it changes us. If we are diligent in seeking God, slowly and surely we become better people." - Joyce Meyer.

Sixteenth Sunday of the Year: C: July 17, 2022

            THE VIRTUE OF HOSPITALITY

First Reading: Genesis 18: 1-10

Second Reading: Colossians 1: 24-28

Gospel Reading: Luke 10: 38-42

   *First reading is from the book of Genesis. The hospitality shown to three strangers by Abraham and how he welcomes them is narrated. By welcoming those three, he in fact is welcoming the Lord God. Abraham displays the warmth of eastern hospitality. He washes their feet and invites them to take rest. Meanwhile Sarah his wife prepares a sumptuous meal and waits inside a tent. The hospitality of the couple is amply rewarded and the Lord God promises them a son in answer to their deepest desire. 

   *Second reading is from St. Paul's letter to Colossians. Paul elaborates to the Christian community at Colossia and all of us his experiences of sufferings for Christ the Lord. He explains that in our own sufferings we are never alone: Christ is always with us drawing us closer and closer to Him. In the person of Jesus, God really walks among His people, accepting their hospitality and teaching them God's immense love for us. 

The hospitality of Martha and Mary                                                              Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. We meet two sisters - Martha and Mary - who show great hospitality to Jesus when He visits them. Martha becomes fully engaged in preparing a meal while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to His life-giving teachings. Martha is busy to the point of distraction. She thinks Mary should be doing something more urgent than just listening to Jesus. Jesus listens to Martha's complaints and makes His own observations: that Martha is busy and anxious about many things which are trivial. In all her fret and fuss, Martha is missing one thing that is needed: to welcome the Lord by listening to His precious words. Jesus praises Mary for setting the priorities right. Hence true hospitality according to Jesus is to listen to His Word and live according to it. Listening to the Word of God should take precedence over all our other cares and concerns. The way we continue to have God as our guest is when we welcome His Word and act upon it. 

"True hospitality is marked by open response to the dignity of each and every person." - K. Norris.

Fifteenth Sunday of the Year: C: July 10, 2022

            LOVE OF ONE'S NEIGHBOUR

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 10-14

Second Reading: Colossians 1: 15-20

Gospel Reading: Luke 10: 25-37

   *First reading is from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses exhorts the people of Israel to keep the commandments of the Lord God so that they turn to the Lord God with all their hearts and with all their souls. These commandments are easy to obey because they are in the very heart and soul of every person. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Colossians. Paul describes the incarnate Word, the  Lord Jesus as the true image of God in human form. He is pre-eminent and supreme to everything created. He is the head of the Church and He brings reconciliation to the whole creation. 

The parable of the Good Samaritan                                                                              Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus presents to us the wonderful, touching parable of the Good Samaritan for our reflection and action. A lawyer puts a very pertinent question to Jesus. The question is, "Who is my neighbour?" In response, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. What is most disturbing in Jesus' parable is not so much the attack made on an innocent man. But those two  respectable persons - a Priest and a Levite- pass by the unfortunate person without showing any compassion or concern. Because for both of them, the first question that came to their mind was, "What will happen to me if I stop and help this wounded man?" Whereas the first question that came to the mind of the Samaritan was, "What will happen to this wounded man if I don't take care of him?" In a similar situation, like the Priest and the Levite in the parable, many of us may have ample excuses not to help those in need. It is much easier and safer to go on the other side of the road as they did. But the Samaritan brushed aside all such thoughts and opened his heart to the wounded man. He goes out of his way to help this unfortunate victim. Jesus dramatically answers the question put by the lawyer through this most touching parable. He challenges everyone of us to be a neighbour to whomever our good will must go out.  Jesus tells the lawyer , "Go and do likewise." The same Jesus is telling us too to be a neighbour to whoever is in need of our help.

"It is easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one's neighbour." - Eric Hoffer.

"Love begins at home; love your family and your neighbours. Share with the poor and the needy around you - your smile, your word, your time, your belongings." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.